Angie felt her heart drop. She and JC had broken up the week before he left, though by now, she couldn't even remember why. It had seemed easy for her to get over him, but she knew that it was only because he had been gone and she didn't have to face him everyday. She didn't have to look at his bluer-than-blue eyes. She didn't have to see his strong arms that used to hold her and make her feel safe. She didn't have to deal with it, she didn't have to deal with him. But now that he was back…

Forcing her brightest smile, she cheerfully said, "Oh really? That's good."

Christina, being her best friend, knew that she was only putting on this happy façade. She knew that once Angie saw him again, it would be so hard for her, that it would upset her incredibly.

"Well, I'm gonna go now. I'll see you later," Christina said. "Bye.
"Bye."
"Hey Ang?"
"Yeah?"
"If you're not ok, don't hesitate to call, all right?"

"I'm fine…now go…you're going to be late for work." As soon as the door shut, Angie let out a loud sigh. 'How am I going to face him?' She asked herself. 'I can't. I'll fall apart.'

She laid down on her bed. As she drifted off to sleep, thoughts of JC filled her mind. She knew she would have to face him eventually, the only question was how…

Sitting on the patio in her backyard, Angie observed the world around her. She thought of all the times she and JC would sit out there, enjoying each other. They would sit for hours watching the leaves move on the trees, the green grass slightly blowing in the wind. They would occasionally smirk as they watched the small children play next door. They often talked about what it would be like watching their own children play one day. They always thought it would it would end up perfect, they wanted the whole nine yards…the house with the white picket fence, one boy, one girl, a cute little puppy to keep the kids entertained… But that was so long ago. Their dreams faded away when he left nine months ago.

She glanced at the watch on her wrist. Seeing what time it was, she hurried up and left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angie struggled as she attempted to get the stroller the department store door.

"Here.." she heard a voice say… "Let me help you with that." The owner of the voice held the door open, allowing her to walk inside. She turned around once through the entrance way. "Thank -- you…" her voice trailed off upon seeing who the stranger was.

"Ang? I didn't even recognize you from the back," JC said.

She stared at him, not expecting to see him so soon. An overflow of emotion engulfed her. "H-h-hi Josh," she stuttered. 'God, I have missed him,' she thought.

He reached a hand up and grabbed a lock of hair between two fingers. "Your hair's different," he stated.

"Yeah…I dyed it." She could fell the warmth radiating from his hand being so close to her face.

His eyes fell down to the baby lying peacefully in the stroller next to him. His voice caught in his throat as questions deluged his mind. "A --- a baby?" he finally managed to choke out.

She bent down over the stroller, wrapping the blanket tighter around the sleeping infant. "Yeah," she smiled…"Isn't he precious?"

JC watched her hovering over the child, a smile on her face. "Is he, umm----is he yours?"

Angie looked at him and a let a slight giggle escape her lips. "OH! NO! You thought that the baby was --- it has been like nine months since you left."

He let out a loud sigh. "Well, it seemed like.."

"He's my brother's baby. Two months old today," the proud aunt beamed.
"I didn't know your sister-in-law was pregnant before I left."
"Yeah, neither did she. She was only about two months along when you left and she found out a short while later. They both had to work today so I said I'd baby-sit."
"Oh, well, give them my congratulations."
"I will."
"So, how have you been?" he asked.
She hesitated. "Ok, you?"
"I'm doing all right…been busy…you know, with the tour and all."

She nodded. An awkward silence stood between them. They both had so much they wanted to tell each other, but just couldn't find a way to put it into words. Powerful intense emotions, love, eagerness, enrapturement, passion, lust, desire. All this in a single moment. "Well, I uh, I better go," she said, needing to get away from him, though not really wanting to.

"Yeah, me too. I'll see you around?" he said as more of a question.

"Yeah."

"It was good seeing you again, I missed you Ang."

"I was good seeing you too Josh. See ya round."

He leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek. "Bye." He watched as she walked away, pushing the stroller in front of her. He hung his head, thoughts running around his head.

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